Two-hand control for presses



Dec. 3, 1935. G' 5 BALL-)wm 2,022,645

TWO-HAND CONTROL FOR PRESSES Filed Jan. ll, 1955 INVENTOR GEORGE s. BALDwsN BY WM l f/f Patented Dec. 3, 1935 I- UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE l 2,022,645 Two-HAND connor. Foa Passsas Ohio Application January 11, 1935, Serial No. 1,334

6 Claims. 689) This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type used in laundry and garment work and more particularly toan improved control mechanism for a power operated pressing machine.

My improved control mechanism is applied to a pressing machine of the type having a pair of cooperating relatively movable pressing members, and power means for closing the press including motion transmitting mechanism having separable parts adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, these parts being normally urged toward uncoupled position and moved toward coupled position by a motor.`

An object of the present invention is to supply novel control mechanism for such a press including spaced safety manuals requiring the use of two hands of an operator to hold the separable parts in coupled position until the press is safely closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide power means for closing a press of the class described having separable parts as above referred to, and control means for the press-closing motor biased in press-closing direction but latched in press-opening position. Two-hand control is provided for the coupling motor as above mentioned, and the control means for the press-closing motor is actuated by one of the manuals for the coupling motor.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds and the essential features thereof will be summarized in the appended claims.

The drawing shows a side elevation partly in section of a pressing machine equipped with my improved control mechanism, the mechanism being shown in diagrammatic form so as to be more clearly understood.

My improved control mechanism is particularly applicable to a power operated pressing machine having motion transmitting mechanism between the power means and one of the pressing members for moving the same from its open to its closed position and into final pressure engagement with a cooperating member. The motion transmitting mechanism comprises separable parts which are normally uncoupled or in position ineffective to transmit power. These parts must be coupled or placed in effective position before the power means can effectively act to close the press. Many types of press structure are adapted to use the control mechanism described herein but I have chosen for illustrative purposes the pressing machine illustrated, described and claimed in Patent No.

1,747,879, granted February 18, 1930, to Robert C. Pauly.' This press comprises a frame I0 on which is mounted a pressing bed Ii adapted to cooperate with a pressing head I2 which is carried by a head lever i3 pivotally mounted at I4 5 on a bracket of the frame. Toggle members I5 and I6 are movable toward straightened position for the purpose of moving the head lever about its pivot to bring the head into engagement with the bed. Toggle member i5 carries at its 10 upper end a thrust rod I1 which is normally ineffective to move the head lever because it is uncoupled therefrom. To couple these parts a cap member i8 is pivotally mounted on the head lever at i9 and oscillatable about the pivot to 15 place the portion 20 of the cap over the end 2l of thrust rod I1 so as to couple these two parts whereupon straightening ofthe toggles will actuate the head lever. Straightening of the toggle members is accomplished by power lever 22 20 pivotally mounted in the frame at 23 and connected by bracket 24 rigid with the power lever which carries a pin 25 which in turn engages in a slot 26 which is part of an angle lever 21 pivotally mounted in the frame at 28. 'I'he angle lever 25 is connected by link 29 with the knuckle of the toggles so that clockwise movement of power lever 22 produces counterclockwise movement of angle lever 21 which in turn pulls upon the link 29 to straighten the toggles. arranged that when the toggles reach straightened position lever 22 exerts a powerful pry bar effect upon the straightened toggles, this effect being applied at the pivotal connection 3|) between lever 22 and toggle member I6. Power 35 means acts upon the lever 22 to close the press and the power means illustrated comprises a fluid actuated motor 3l having a cylinder 32 mounted on a trunnion 33 and equipped with a piston 34 Whose piston rod 35 is pivotally con- 40 nected at 36 with the forward end of the power lever. A spring 31 biases the head toward its open position. The above mechanism is substantially that shown in the Pauly patent referred to and further description may be found in the patent if desired.

My present invention provides power means for moving the cap member i8 to the position where the separable parts are coupled so as to effectively transmit power from the power means to the head lever. The power means shown comprises a uid actuated motor 38 mounted on the head lever and having a cylinder 39 in which a piston 40 is adapted to reciprocate. 'I'he piston rod 4i is connected by a link l2` to an arm 4I which is 55 The parts are so 30 rigidly connected with the cap member. A spring 44 biases piston 40 to the right, as seen in the drawing, and thus serves to bias the cap member i8 toward its uncoupled position. Motive fluid is supplied to motor 38 through a combined supply and exhaust conduit 45 which communicates with valve casings 46 and 41 which are connected in series by conduit 48, and valve casing 41 in turn communicates with a pressure iluid supply 49. In valve casing 46 is a normally closed inlet valve 46a and a normally open exhaust valve 46h mounted upon a common stem 46c Ior operation by a manual 46d. A spring 46e biases the valves toward their normal positions. Valve casing 41 is supplied with similar parts which are designated by similar suiilxes.

Motive iluid is supplied to motor 3| through a common supply and exhaust conduit 50 which communicates between cylinder 32 and valve casing 5| which houses a normally closed inlet valve 5|a, which is in communication with the pressure iluid supply 49, and a normally open exhaust valve 5|b which communicates by conduit 52 with the atmosphere. Valves 5|a and 5| b are connected by their respective valve stems with a common actuator 53 which is so arranged that when one valve is closed the other is opened. The actuator 53 is pivotally mounted at 54 and is provided with an upwardly extending arm 55 which is normally biased toward fluid supply position by a spring 56. 'I'he arm 55, however, is latched in iluid exhaust position by a latch member 51 which is normally held against a stop member 58 by a spring 59. 'I'he latch 51 carries a pin 60 which engages in a slot 6| in the link 62 which is pivotally connected at its opposite end at 63 with the manual 46d. The slot 6| provides a lost motion connection between link 62 and latch 51, while manual 46d is being actuated sufficiently to operate valves 46a and 4Gb. Thereafter, pin 66 is engaged by the end of link 62 to lift latch 51 and release the arm 55 whereupon spring 56 will move valves 5|a and 5|b to iluid supply position.

Suitable means is provided to move the actuator 53 in iluid exhaust direction at the close of a pressing operation. I have illustrated a treadle 64 connected by a rod 65 with a portion oi: actuator 53 and so arranged that, when the operator depresses the treadle, actuator 53 is oscillated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing to close valve 5|a and to open valve 5|b and to latch arm 55 in engagement with the latch member 51.

The operation of the machine with the parts in the position shown in the drawing is as i'ollows: The operator arranges the lay of the Work on the bed and actuates manuals 46d and 41d. The rst result of such actuation is the closing of outlet valves 46h and 41h and the opening of inlet valves 46a and 41a. Pressure iluid then flows from supply 49 through valve 41a, conduit 48, valve 46a and conduit 45 to motor 38, thus oscillating the cap I8 in a clockwise direction about its pivot and coupling the thrust rod |1 and the head lever 3. Both manuals 46dvand 41d must be held in their actuated position until the press is finally closed because until the pressing members are in iinal pressure engagement the friction between parts 20 and 2| is insufficient to retain them in coupled position against the action of spring 44 tending to uncouple them. Further movement of manual 46d sufilcient to take up the lost motion between pin AGli and slot 6| raises latch51, thus releasing arm 55 and permitting spring 56 to move valves 5|a and 5 I b to uid supply position in which position they are h'eld by the spring 56. When the press is fully closed, manuals 46d and 41d may be released. To open the press treadle 64 is depressed which returns 5 valves 5|a and 5|b to their fluid exhaust 'position' shown in the drawing and latches them there. Pressure is relieved in cylinder 32 and spring 31 will open the press while simultaneously spring 44 moves the cap member i8 to its uncoupled l0 position.

y What I claim is:

l. A pressing machine comprising cooperating relatively movable pressing members, a motor tor producingv ilnal pressure between said members, 15 power transmitting mechanism between said motor and one of said members including separable parts adapted to be coupled or uncoupled and so arrangedas to be capable of being coupled only when the press is in open position, means nor- 20 mally tending to uncouple said parts, a motor for coupling said parts, two-hand control means for said coupling motor, and means controlled by a part oi' said two-hand control means for energizing said ilnal pressure-motor.

2. In a pressing machine, a pair oi.' cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power means for relatively moving said members to close the press and to cause ilnal pressure engagement, control means for said power means, 30 said power means including motion transmitting mechanism having separable parts adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, means normally tending to uncouple said parts, a motor for coupling said parts, said parts being arranged to remain 35- coupled when the press is safely closed, and control means for said motor including two spaced safety manuals, one of said manuals having a connection with said control means for said power means for actuating the same. i

3. In a pressing machine, a pair oi cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power means for relatively moving said, members to close the press and to cause final pressurev engagement, control means for said power means 45 biased in press-closing direction, latch means for holding said control means in press-open posi-l tion, said power means acting through motion transmitting mechanism having separable parts adapted to -be coupled and uncoupled, means 50,-,

normally tending to uncouple said parts, a motor for coupling said parts, said parts being ar ranged to be held in coupled position when the press is closed, and control means forsaid motor including two spaced safety manuals, one of 5,5.-

said manuals having an operative connection with said latch means for releasing the same.

4. In a pressing machine, a pair of .cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power means for relatively moving said members to 60- close the press and to cause iinal pressure engagement, control means for said power means biased 'in press-closing direction, latch means for holds of said connection being taken up when said one 7 5-,

manual performs its control function for said couplingI motor.

5. In a pressing machine, cooperating relatively movable pressing members, a motor and motion transmitting mechanism for relatively moving said members from open to closed position for a pressing operation, a control member for said motor, means biasing said member toward press-closing-producing position, a latch for holding said member in press-opening-producing position, a movable part having an operative connection with said motion transmitting mechanism, said part being movable from a disabling position, in which it renders impossible the closing of said press, to an enabling position in which it makes possible press closing movement of said motor and mechanism, said part being adapted to be held in enabling position by heavy friction between it and said mechanism when the press is closed, means biasing said part to disabling position lbut ineffective against said heavy friction, power means for moving said part to enabling position, and two spaced manuals for controlling said power means, one of saidV manuals having an operative connection for releasing said latch.

6. In a pressing machine, cooperating rela- 5 tively movable pressing members, a motor and motion transmitting mechanism for causing relative movement of said members from open to closed position for a pressing operation, a movable part having an operative connection with 10 said mechanism, said part being movable from a disabling position in which it renders impossible the closing of said press to an enabling position in which it makes possible press closing movement, means biasing said part to disabling posi- 15 tion, a. motor for moving said part to enabling position, two-hand control means for said last named motor, and means controlled by a part of said two-hand control means for energizing said first named motor. 20

GEORGE S. BALDWIN. 

